Missing boy Matthew Zhang, 8, found safely

Amber Alert issued after boy wasn't returned to father

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Police in Peel Region say missing eight-year-old boy Matthew Zhang has been found safely north of the city.

Police had issued an Amber Alert on Monday morning after the boy was not returned to his father following a visit with Matthew's mother on Sunday.

Police say Zhang's father dropped the boy off at his mother's residence on Mississauga Valley Boulevard at 10 a.m. Sunday. When the father contacted Matthew's mother later that afternoon, she refused to return him, according to police.

A press release had been issued about the boy before police upgraded the file to an Amber Alert on Monday just after 10:30 a.m. ET. The press release included a description of the boy, his mother and the licence plate number of her vehicle.

The Amber Alert was called down at 1:15 p.m.

Police say a driver who saw the Amber Alert spotted the mother's car and contacted police. She was pulled over in Vaughan without incident. The boy is safe and police say he will be returned to his father — who is the boy's custodial parent — later on Monday.